CLAYTON-- The Rabun County Public Library installed new study pods for patrons last week.
Caroline Frick, library manager, said that the pods provide a private space where patrons can work on tasks like completing continuing education courses, recertification courses, have video-conferencing meetings, take phone calls, as well as complete many other tasks.
They are single-person pods.
“We realized there was a need for people to be able to work remotely who might not have the capability to do so at home,” Frick said.
She said that since the pods arrived last week, local students have utilized them to complete online coursework that they were unable to do at home.
The pods were funded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES), Frick said.
Frick said that the Rabun County Public Library applied for a Technical Innovation Grant through the CARES Act from the Georgia Public Library Service and it was approved.
She explained that funding is given to the Georgia Public Library Service and individual libraries apply for it based on the needs of their community.
“They’ve been very popular already,” Frick said about the pods. “We’ve been really excited about the interest.”
Although, Frick said that there has been a need for the pods for a while.
“We had seen a need for this even before the pandemic,” Frick said. She recalled patrons who participated in loud phone calls and activities that disrupted the library. These pods are a way to combat those situations.
“They are sound-proof up to 27 decibels,” Frick said.
Frick said that the pods are ventilated and not cleaned between uses, but are disinfected at the end of each day.
She said that patrons are welcome to bring their own disinfectant products to clean the area if they prefer. Disinfectant wipes are provided in the library lobby.
Frick said that no food or drinks are allowed anywhere in the library.
The pods are not equipped with electronic devices, so patrons must bring their own. Charging ports are available to plug in devices.
“We have Chromebooks available for checkout,” Frick said. She said that a library card is needed when checking out the Chromebooks, but patrons are not required to have a library card while utilizing the pods.
She added that patrons do not have to live in Rabun County to utilize the pods.
The library also offers free WiFi.
“In the next 3-4 weeks, the four-person meeting pod will be delivered and available for use as well.” Frick said.
She said that currently no appointments are required to use the pods. The library is in a trial period to determine what the demand is for the product.
“If there becomes a need to make appointments, we will do it on our website,” Frick said.